I knew I was going to post about this when I showed my refrigerator because last week I bit the bullet and ordered a new gas range!!! And yesterday it arrived.
Our old range (two burners, 15 years old) started sputtering this fall. One of the burners wouldn't stay on for more than two or three minutes. That left me with ONE burner to cook dinner on! Tetsu wanted to fix the gas range... and he tried! Took it apart, brushed the gas outlets to clear them of debris, jiggled, wiggled and pushed buttons. A couple of times he even claimed that he'd fixed it! But in a day or two the burner wouldn't work again.
Now, I can't think of anything more dangerous than a poorly functioning gas range. And to be honest, I didn't really trust Tetsu's repair capabilities. A new range seemed to be a non-luxury, must be purchased item.
I could have opted for spending a fortune and revamping my kitchen to an electric Induction Heating system. That is the way many homes are going and for awhile this was lauded as the future mode for cooking in Japan. Because of the March earthquake and the scheduled black outs, some people determined that having an all electric home might not be the perfect solution and gas ranges are making a comeback. (Besides the initial costs, you have to replace all your cookware too....No thank you.) I did NOT want an IH cooking system which was a mighty relief to Tetsu.
I started on my quest of a reasonable gas range. For such a small appliance, there are numerous options nowadays in Japan. Did I want the high temperature burner on the left or the right? Did I want drip pans? Flushed heat for equal grill cooking? Water in the grill or waterless?
I knew I wanted a waterless grill. What does that even mean? It used to be that when grilling fish in the grill (it is called a fish grill... That's what Japanese grill in it. FISH!) the fish oil would fall into the pan and be hard to clean so someone figured putting water in the bottom of the grill solved the problem. Unfortunately I found it difficult to clean out the grill without spilling the messy water all over the floor. I wanted a WATERLESS grill (using Teflon these days I think...)
I also wanted flush grill heating (because when I flipped my fish to cook on the underside the fish would fall apart.) I didn't want drip pans because I wanted to be able to wipe up with a swish of a rag. (I dream of this range improving my cleaning skills). Okay... and while we're dreaming, throw in a thermostat and a timer. OOooh... Really going for fancy!
Tetsu stayed out of the purchasing process. I am going to buy myself a gas range. I am the one who will use it. After taking a survey with my friends and students I made a decision and then started combing the stores. Expensive! And then I went online and found what I wanted at a reasonable price. AND I PUSHED THE PURCHASE BUTTON AND BOUGHT MYSELF A NEW GAS RANGE!!!! I don't know what surprised Tetsu more. That I bought myself the fancy range or that I did it online. He was sure I would read the website wrong (in Japanese) and end up with something completely different.
BUT I DID IT! I have a brand new sparkling range in my kitchen! It is a set in type... (came in a box and I hooked up the gas hose and set it on the counter.) This too is pretty normal in the Japanese home. (As opposed to built in types that have three burners and a carpenter has to be called in to remove a counter or something.) It is Teflon coated all over for easy cleaning!Last night I cooked on it and Tetsu politely suggested that the soup tasted delicious because of my new gas range. Flattery, flattery.
Now I have no excuse not liking cooking. Except that I'm going to hate to use my new range and dirty it up...
12 comments:
Only two burners and no oven....Japan is different. I'm glad you got your new range.
Yes, your stove is very different than what we are used to seeing here in the States. At home we have a separate cook top from our ovens. We have a double oven and separately a microwave so lots of things can be "in the oven" at the same time. On board the ship we have a much smaller kitchen in our suite, but it is very nice to have.
Wow! And yet another appliance that is so different from the one I have here in the United States! I have 4 burners on top and a large oven to bake a big turkey! lol There is a control panel that has a timer and a button that I can hold down for so many seconds that locks the top burners from anyone being able to turn it on. A great safety features to keep my young son from burning down the house!
I too wouldn't want to switch to electric from gas. Once you cook with gas you just can't cook with electric or at least that is my opinion. I can't cook with electric at all. I always burn everything on the electric stoves that I cook on when we go on vacation at the place we rent.
Your cooktop is very nice looking. You were brave to take on the selection process and install it - I would have been nervous hooking up the gas line up myself. I wondered if ovens are common in Japan, since the cooktop is a separate unit. I don't think I could cook very well without an oven. And I'm a southern girl - no biscuits or cornbread? Never!
Congratulations! It sure is pretty! I hate cooking with gas myself - I really, really miss my glass-top electric stove. Mum has it now though.
Haha- my verification word is "baste"...
I like your new range. It looks easy to wipe clean. When I got a new one, I didn't want the grill because of the difficulty keeping it clean. Instead I got an enameled French model. It is almost perfect except that the buttons for opperation are close on the front edge and always getting spills on them which are tricky to wipe around.
It seems we do a lot of cooking on our stove, too, Tanya! Glad you got just what you wanted. A lot of times it is easier to know what you DON'T want and narrow the field :) My broiler is not working but we grill outside year round so I don't miss it much, especially now that it's just the two of us most meals.
It's time for me to replace my stove also. I have a gas stove and will probably replace it with gas. During a power outage several years ago, I was still able to stay in my home due to the gas stove, gas furnace and gas hot water heater. It was chilly, but I just layered up. Thanks for sharing.
cindy
Your new range is quite attractive. I have an electric one but for years cooked on a gas range and prefer gas over electric. It seems that in the area where I live most homes have electric ranges. My question is there any oven in your kitchen? I use my oven nearly every day and can't imagine preparing a meal without one. Enjoy cooking on your new stove.
Good for you. I also ordered appliances on line and lived in fear that they would arrive and disappoint me. However, I love them and was able to get the exact models I wanted by ordering on line. Of course, I didn't have to do it in Japanese. You're impressive.
Sue
Ah, alls well that ends well..ever so glad you got rid of the improperly functioning gas stove..you new stove is very impressive..and I do like that grill idea..tho probably I'd grill more chicken than fish...
AND Lois...pleeeeeeezzzzeeeeee tell us about your ship and your suite..pleeeeezzeee..that will be your Christmas gift to all of us on Tanya's blog...and we thank you, in advance, Lois...we really all are sister here, ya know...Tanya, again, I've had a request from a local citizen as to "who is the Shinzo Ohki I've heard talked about"...so, I told her..but it was frightful, because she is a member of our historical society board and doesn't know who Mr.Ohki was...and now time for me to fix lunch, so all you girls, have a great day....Hugs, Pat in IN
Fascinating, the differences. I too use gas and would not change. Thanks for sharing. Happy cooking!
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